SEScoops

Author: Tyriece Simon

  • Identity of the Man Who Went After AJ Styles on WWE Raw

    Identity of the Man Who Went After AJ Styles on WWE Raw

    A mystery man tried attacking AJ Styles on Monday’s edition of WWE Raw, but it wasn’t Dexter Lumis who was responsible.

    For the last several weeks, WWE has run an angle where Lumis has made numerous attempts to ‘invade’ Raw. He made his main roster return on the Aug. 8 episode of Raw after Styles defeated The Miz. Lumis almost hopped over the ringside barricade until their security guards stop him.

    On the Aug. 22 episode of Raw, WWE had the same angle with a slight twist. When Styles was outside the ring for his match, an attacker tried to hop over the barricade. However, the attacker wasn’t Lumis, and WWE security escorted the person away.

    To be clear, the company planned this to happen, and it was to set up a surprise for when Lumis did appear. However, people were curious about the identity of the mysterious kayfabe attacker.

    Who Attacked AJ Styles on Raw?

    The Local Competitor’s social media account helped identify the attacker as local talent Rajan Hustler. He trains at Battle Arts Academy and wrestles in Canada, where Raw was taking place.

    It seemed like WWE was teasing that Lumis wanted to go after Styles, but it’s unclear after the recent episode of Raw. Instead of going after “The Phenomenal One,” Lumis turned his attention to Miz and kidnapped him.

    Lumis has tried to invade in matches with Styles, but it also included Miz’s involvement. The company may be trying to surprise fans with Lumis feuding with Miz, not Styles.

    It’s unclear where Lumis took Miz or if that is the feud the company has planned. While the company hasn’t addressed where the Miz is, they may address the situation on the next episode of Raw. It’s unlikely that the “A-List Superstar” would take his kidnapping lightly.

    Who do you think Lumis’s first main roster feud will be against?

  • What’s Happening with CM Punk and Hangman Adam Page?

    What’s Happening with CM Punk and Hangman Adam Page?

    CM Punk was trending worldwide on Thursday after a bombshell report by Fightful Select stated that AEW officials were unsure if Punk would appear on this week’s Dynamite as advertised.

    The primary issue revolves around Punk’s strained relationship with “Hangman” Adam Page, which stems from their heated feud that culminated with Punk winning the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing.

    Punk has been so vocal about unhappiness with that situation that sources in AEW have wondered if he’ll quit working for the company entirely.

    The following is a summary of the developing situation involving CM Punk and AEW:

    CM Punk’s Feud with Hangman

    Punk Hangman

    The feud between Punk and Page started on the Apr. 20 episode of AEW Dynamite. Leading up to their inevitable clash at Double or Nothing on May 29, the two had gone after each other in promos to build towards the match.

    The story onscreen was that Page was taking his match against Punk personal and that Punk thought it was just business. “Hangman” started the war of words by taking shots at Punk in a promo on the May. 4 episode of AEW Dynamite when Punk wasn’t in attendance.

    In the promo, the champion said, “…At Double or Nothing, there’s not going to be a handshake. At Double or Nothing, there’s not going to be a masturbatory Bret Hart tribute match. I am going to destroy CM Punk.”

    https://twitter.com/davidbix/status/1560347230535618561

    The May. 4 episode is the only show where Punk wasn’t in attendance for their build towards Double or Nothing. The last promo with each other took place at AEW Dynamite on May. 25 where Page alluded to Punk personal issues with Colt Cabana.

    They finally had their match at Double or Nothing, where Punk defeated Page with his Go-To-Sleep finisher.

    CM Punk’s Promo on August 17th

    Punk is currently in a program with Interim AEW World Champion Jon Moxley. He made his return after healing his foot injury at AEW Dynamite on Aug 10 to confront the interim champion.

    He was set to promote his feud with Moxley on the Aug. 17 episode of AEW Dynamite, but he decided to address Page for an unknown reason. He called Page out and referred to him as a coward, which Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer shared wasn’t planned.

    Punk actions caught fans and reportedly the AEW roster by surprise, including Page. However, the story behind Punk’s promo got more interesting after the Fightful Select report on Aug. 18.

    Fightful Details Regarding Punk

    Fightful Select had followed up on Punk’s action and reports that those close to Punk believe that he contemplated not appearing on the show. It’s reported that several people on the AEW roster think Punk mentioned Page because he felt his rival went into business for himself leading into their Double or Nothing match on May 29. In a promo on the May 25 episode of AEW Dynamite, Page alluded to Punk’s issues with Colt Cabana.

    CM Punk Entrance as Champion

    The report also states that he’s shared that he is unhappy with the situation to the point that sources that know of the problem believe he might leave the company. via Fightful:

    “…Sources familiar with the situation claim that CM Punk has often verbally expressed his displeasure, including recently so blatantly that they thought he might end up quitting the company. Those close to him said that he might have almost decided to stay home instead of coming to the August 17 Dynamite, but don’t think he would have quit. We haven’t been given any indication that he plans on leaving AEW, but one veteran said they have heard of “threats being levied”

    – Fightful Select

    Furious

    According to Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Live, some people in AEW were furious at CM Punk, but the locker room was split and some siding with Punk over Adam Page.

    There were a few people furious at CM Punk backstage, because Hangman is a well-liked guy. So they’re mad at Punk. Also, you have people who are on Punk’s side who say Hangman started this, so they’re mad that you’re mad at CM Punk. I know this is pro wrestling, and we have the MJF deal, but I was told that it’s not. It was started when Hangman was unprofessional, and CM Punk followed that up by making Hangman look like a fool.

    CM Punk Match Against Jon Moxley For Next Week Was Reportedly a Late Decision

    In another twist from last night, fans were surprised that AEW decided to have the anticipated Punk vs. Moxley title match on the Aug. 24 episode of AEW Dynamite. AEW’s decision seems odd, especially with their Pay Per View All Out taking place on Sep. 4.

    The report added that AEW’s decision to have the match on Aug. 24 was late. However, it’s unclear how late the company decided to make the match official for AEW Dynamite.

    While it is a surprise, wrestling fans can rejoice at seeing the unification match without watching it on Pay Per View.

    Conclusion on this topic

    CM Punk

    It’s worth noting that Punk nor Page has spoken about issues between the two. The report also acknowledges the claim that he is upset with Page over their program is based on AEW’s roster speculation.

    However, Punk’s actions and Fightful Select’s sources could make wrestling fans wonder how AEW will resolve this issue. Punk signed to AEW last year and is likely in a multi-year deal. Punk hasn’t shown that he has considered quitting or didn’t want to appear on the recent AEW Dynamite episode.

  • Trish Adora Previews Match Against Lufisto at Beyond Wrestling

    Trish Adora Previews Match Against Lufisto at Beyond Wrestling

    Independent Wrestler Trish Adora discusses her upcoming match against legend LuFisto for Beyond Wrestling.

    Adora is slowly becoming a popular fan favorite on the independent wrestling scene. After spending several years in the United States Army, The Washington D.C native shifted her focus to becoming a professional wrestler in 2018.

    Adora has garnered a large fan base as her career has progressed and is the reigning Pan-Afrikan Diaspora Wrestling World Champion. She has also wrestled matches for All Elite Wrestling, WWE, and Ring of Honor.

    On Aug. 21, Adora will have a tough challenge when she faces professional wrestling legend Lufisto at Beyond Wrestling Americanrana 22: Black Out. It will be the first match between the two competitors. While Adora is looking to get the win, she respects LuFisto and is looking forward to the match.

    In an interview with SEScoops’s Steve Fall, the reigning Pan-Afrikan Diaspora Wrestling World Champion previewed her match.

    “Lufisto is one of the most legendary independent women wrestlers,” said Adora. “She’s a trailblazer. She is the innovator of intergender wrestling, who I take a part of.”

    “Just to be across the ring from her for the very first time too. It’s just going to be very, very interesting. She has such a smash-mouth style, very, very hard-hitting, but I don’t mind taking a couple of punches. I’m no slouch, but I definitely plan on tying her up in a knot.”

    Here is the full interview with Adora:

    Trish Adora Plans for This Year

    Adora will have a busy schedule this weekend. While she will be challenging Lufisto on Aug. 21, she also competes against Karen Bam Bam at Black Girl Magik on Aug. 19. To add to her demanding schedule, she will compete in an intergender match against Warhorse at Black Label Pro: Total Heart Eclipse on Aug. 27.

    Although it may seem hectic, The Washington D.C native is still looking to expand her reach and is contemplating relocating to the west coast later this year. She even mentioned in the interview that she thought about buying a camper vehicle and traveling around.

    Adora is still figuring out her plans for the remainder of the year. She will have her hands full this weekend, but she is looking forward to all the challenges.

    Wrestling fans can watch Adora face LuFisto at Beyond Wrestling Americanrana 22: Black Out on IWTV by subscribing for $9.99.

  • Jack Evans Has Regrets About His Time With AEW

    Jack Evans Has Regrets About His Time With AEW

    Former All Elite Wrestling talent Jake Evans reflected on his AEW run and believed he could’ve done better.

    Evans signed with the company alongside his former tag team partner Angelico on May 9, 2019. He also competed in a tag match with his partner at AEW’s inaugural Double or Nothing Pay Per View against Best Friends(Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta) on May 25, 2019.

    While Evans started in the early days of AEW, the company rarely used him for TV, and he also dealt with setbacks as a team with his partner. AEW decided not to re-sign Evans to a new deal and let his contract expire in April this year.

    Evans recently spoke with Brett Deutchman for PWMania and discussed what keeps him going in professional wrestling. He shared that AEW motivated him and said he could’ve done better with the company.

    “Honestly, one of the things that has motivated me recently was my AEW stint,” said Evans. “I didn’t do as well there as I could’ve, but nonetheless, I was grateful for the experience. I don’t know how likely it is that I’ll be back there, even though I would love to. It’s a very sought-after promotion that everyone’s trying to go to.”

    Jack Evans on His Current Plans After Leaving AEW

    Jack Evans

    Since his departure, Evans has begun to work for independent wrestling promotions and recently wrestled for Impact Wrestling. He unsuccessfully challenged “Speedball” Mike Bailey for the X Division Championship at Emergence on Aug. 12.

    At 40 years old, Evans is motivated to compete in the indies. He also praised how independent wrestling promotions operate today compared to the past.

    “After I got released from AEW, I got back on the indies, and I’m just grinding it out,” said Evans. “Tomorrow, I’ll be wrestling on Impact. I just did MCW recently too. Not a lot of people realize that MCW has been around a long time, which is impressive for an indy promotion.”

    He continued, “At the time when they were established, not many indies would last that long; it was rare. Most would be a one-off show, and that’s it. MCW has a business model that makes it profitable.”

    Although Evans wants to compete with the best on the independent wrestling scene, he doesn’t rule out a return to AEW. He would also like to do more promos if he returns to the company. For now, Evans is a free agent looking to compete as a single competitor.

  • Matt Taven Shares When He Found Out About ROH Hiatus

    Matt Taven Shares When He Found Out About ROH Hiatus

    Former Ring of Honor talent Matt Taven reflects on his final days with Ring of Honor before his release.

    The news of ROH going on hiatus surprised wrestling fans last year. ROH shared their announcement on Oct. 27, 2021, that they wanted to reconceptualize the brand. All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan would purchase ROH on March 2.

    While the news took fans by surprise, it also shocked their talent.

    In an interview with Steve Fall, Taven shared that he found out about the ROH hiatus not too long after it became public to fans. Although, he also shared that he did see that business wasn’t looking ideal.

    “…None of us really knew exactly what was going on, and even after that announcement, no one really knew what was going on. There was definitely guys like myself and Jay Lethal who were, you know. We’re filming in front of no one. I can see how much every time we do these TV tapings, the amount of testing, the single rooms, the amount of people coming in, all the flights. I’m looking around, and I’m adding everything. I’m just thinking to myself. This isn’t good, said Taven.

    He continued, “…We were reassured a lot of a lot of different things, and maybe I have no idea because I’m only on one side of it, so I don’t know what was on the other side, but we really found out shortly before the internet found out. I mean, we had a zoom meeting just like this, and we were told the news, and before you really had a chance to process it, your phone’s already going off because it seemed like everyone else knew as well.”

    Matt Taven at Impact Wrestling

    Matt Taven on ROH Allowing him to Wrestle for Impact Wrestling

    Once ROH announced they were going on hiatus, it was revealed that they would let go of all their contracted wrestlers. Some wrestlers whose deals expired were let go immediately, while others had their contract end by April 1.

    Taven shared he had two years left on his original deal. Despite still being under contract with ROH, the company allowed Taven to compete in Impact Wrestling.

    During the interview, he expressed gratitude to the company for allowing him to work for Impact Wrestling and still respecting his contract.

    “… They were going to let all of the contracts that were expired just expire and not renew them, and the ones that continue to go on had a new end date per se in Mar. or the end of Mar., so I was one of those guys, but thankfully Ring of Honor allowed me to do Impact Wrestling during that time period after Final Battle and before my contract would actually expire,” said Taven.

    ROH letting Taven work with Impact Wrestling helped secure his current working relationship with the company.

    Matt Taven

    Would He Consider Working with Tony Khan’s ROH?

    Under the ownership of Khan, ROH is looking to rebuild the brand. The company recently had its pay-per-view event, ROH Death Before Dishonor, on July 23.

    Although he’s working with Impact Wrestling, Taven shared he doesn’t rule out the possibility of working for ROH again. However, he is focused on working with Impact Wrestling and knows he’ll be with them for a little longer.

    Despite not being with the company, Taven wishes Khan the best in rebuilding ROH.

  • Get To Know: The A Show Podcast

    Get To Know: The A Show Podcast

    In the latest installment of the Get to Know series, we bring you a special interview with The A Show Podcast.

    As the independent wrestling podcast community is increasing, some content creators have begun to create media networks. Aside from their podcast, creators may help spotlight others and bolster the overall brand.

    Created by Justin Davis and Jameel Raeburn, The A Show, through their network RNC Radio has found success in this model with a growing fanbase. The podcast has published over 200 episodes and has led to the creation of other wrestling podcasts, The War Report and Rewriters Room.

    I recently had the chance to speak with Davis and Raeburn about the success of their podcast, alongside The War Report’s Cyrus Blot and Melquan Allen.

    Here’s the video of our discussion, followed by written highlights.

    How Did The A Show Podcast Begin?

    Davis and Raeburn began their venture as wrestling content creators helping with the renowned podcast WrassleRap in its early days.

    Independent wrestling podcasters like The Black Announce Table have looked at Wrasslerap’s Emilio Sparks and Kazeem Famuyide as influential for making them want to discuss wrestling as a career.

    Both Davis and Raeburn credit Sparks and Famuyide for learning under them. However, they also felt they didn’t get the opportunities they wanted, and their frustration led to creating their wrestling podcast.

    “It was influential for myself and Meelz because we saw it from the ground floor, and a lot of the lessons I learned there were lessons that when me and Meelz started this whole thing, we said there are some of the things that we are going to do and some of the stuff we are never going to do. Most of all, being inclusive to some of the people that are there and giving everybody a chance,” said Davis.

    The first episode of The A Show launched on Oct. 26, 2017. During the early stages, Davis shared he would go on his lunch break at his job and record an episode.

    However, the podcast became successful over time, leading to Davis and Raeburn creating the RNC Radio Network.

    Creating The War Report Podcast

    After the success of The A Show, Davis and Raeburn wanted another wrestling show on the network. After getting to know Blot, Davis decided to help him create and host The War Report.

    Blot would start his show under The A Show brand on Oct. 5, 2019. The podcast focuses on All Elite Wrestling and NXT. However, Blot’s show underwent several changes as he had different co-hosts through the years.

    It wasn’t until Jan 15, 2021, when Allen became Blot’s co-host. Over the year they worked together, the podcast has thrived and gained popularity. During the interview, Davis reflected on getting Blot and Quan together to do The War Report.

    “…One thing I say about every gentleman on this call right now is that I see something in everybody I come across, and I see something great in all of them. With Cyrus, I saw that Oh, he’s opinionated, and a lot of people might not like it, but I’m the same way. Why not give him a voice and let him kind of expand on that and be himself, said Davis. He also explained finding Allen as Blot’s co-host. “…It was very tough for us, and this is going to be funny. It was very tough for us to find the perfect co-host for Cyrus because he is a very acquired taste. But I’m glad we found one in Quan and I think it works best that way.”

    What are their Future Plans?

    The A Show is on track to achieving a milestone. Davis and Raeburn will have their 250th episode on Aug. 3. In celebration of reaching its landmark, the podcast will release new merchandise.

    They also have plans to produce more content for their Patreon and do more video content on their Youtube channel. As for The War Report, they plan to continue to deliver consistently great content and look forward to their 200th episode next year.

    The A Show podcast and the RNC Radio Network are enjoying their achievements. However, the brand is still motivated to grow and gain more success.

  • The Briscoes Have Signed A Long Term Exclusive ROH Deal

    The Briscoes Have Signed A Long Term Exclusive ROH Deal

    All Elite Wrestling President and ROH Owner Tony Khan has revealed that The Briscoes have signed an exclusive ROH deal.

    ROH will have its second event, Death Before Dishonor, under Khan’s leadership this Saturday. One of the matches that fans are looking forward to is The Briscoes vs. FTR in their rematch for the ROH Tag Team Championship.

    FTR The Briscoes
    (via ROH)

    Fans of The Briscoes have wanted to see AEW sign the tag team to a deal. Fightful reported that WarnerMedia didn’t wish to AEW to sign The Briscoes due to homophobic tweets that Jay Briscoe made in 2013. It is also worth noting that Jay apologized for his comments in the past.

    While it seemed unlikely that Khan would sign The Briscoes to AEW, Jaychele Nicole reports that he announced on an ROH Conference call today that the team has signed an exclusive long-term deal to return to ROH.

    Will The Briscoes Signing A Deal With ROH hurt Negotiations with WarnerMedia?

    During the call, Khan shared that he’s still negotiating with WarnerMedia to get ROH on Bleacher Report and to do more work with the promotion. Nicole reported that Khan wants to “Parlay BR/ROH partnership into weekly TV through Warner Bros.”

    It’s unclear how far talks with WarnerMedia have gone with signing ROH to a TV deal or whether they are interested. However, according to Khan, the company is excited about ROH.

    The Briscoes
    (via ROH)

    While the ROH Owner shared that The Briscoes signed a deal with ROH, he didn’t say if WarnerMedia had any say in acquiring the tag team. Based on Sapp’s report, it remains to be seen if the company is okay with the signing or if they have changed their opinions on The Briscoes.

    As of now, Khan is still working towards a TV deal for his newly acquired promotion. Although fans could view ROH Death Before Dishonor being streamed on Bleacher Report as progress.

  • Ric Flair Reveals WWE Superstars will be at His Last Match

    Ric Flair Reveals WWE Superstars will be at His Last Match

    Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair shared that several WWE superstars will attend his last match.

    Wrestling fans are looking forward to seeing Flair have the final professional wrestling match of his career. Starrcast shared on Twitter on July 18 that Flair will team with his son-in-law Andrade El Idolo vs. Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal for his last match.

    Flair appeared on Busted Open on Sirius XM with Bully Ray and Dave LaGreca on July 19 to promote the event. During the interview, Ray asked Flair if Charlotte Flair would be at his show. Flair responded that she will but that he wasn’t sure if she would appear on camera. He also revealed that more WWE talent would attend the show.

    “She’ll be there, but I don’t know whether she will be on camera or not, said Flair. He continued, “…If it weren’t for me, I mean, I don’t think she’ll miss it even if Andrade wasn’t involved. She just might not be on camera. A lot of the guys are coming, (Rey)Mysterio is coming, Apollo(Crews) is coming, Pat McAfee is coming.”

    Ric Flair
    (via WWE)

    Is it Possible That More WWE Superstar Will Attend Ric Flair’s Last Match?

    After Flair revealed that some of WWE’s talent would attend his show, wrestling fans may speculate who else may appear. His event would take place on Jul. 31 at The Fairgrounds Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee. WWE will have SummerSlam at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Jul. 30.

    It’s possible more WWE talent could attend Flair’s last match. However, it may be difficult for some wrestlers because Monday Night Raw takes place on Aug. 1 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

    The only name Flair mentioned that is booked to wrestle at SummerSlam as of this writing is McAfee. While it’s likely that other WWE talent may show up, fans shouldn’t expect to see people like Charlotte Flair appear on camera. However, WWE could make some exceptions for the two-time Hall of Famer’s final performance.

    You can watch Flair’s last match live on FITE for $34.99.

  • WWE Reveals When WrestleMania 39 Tickets Go On Sale

    WWE Reveals When WrestleMania 39 Tickets Go On Sale

    WWE has revealed when tickets will go on sale for fans looking to attend WrestleMania 39 next year.

    After the success of WrestleMania 38, fans have wondered when WWE will announce the date WrestleMania 39 tickets will be available. The event has also sparked interest as The Rock is rumored to have a match with Roman Reigns on the card.

    The company shared a press release on July 14th that WrestleMania 39 tickets will go on sale to the public on Aug. 12 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST on Ticketmaster.

    The show will also be a two-night event taking place on April 1 and April 2 at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

    The press release also states that fans could buy tickets for both shows as a combo. It’s unclear if WWE will give a special discount for fans looking to see both shows.

    The Rock
    (via WWE)

    Will The Rock Appear at WrestleMania 39?

    The Rock potentially having a match at WrestleMania 39 against Roman Reigns is something that WWE fans have speculated. The Rock has also teased the thought of him facing the current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion on his TV Show Young Rock.

    However, WWE hasn’t shared if that is their plan for WrestleMania 39.

    Another potential problem WWE may have in getting The Rock to appear is the current investigation that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is having. The Chairman is under investigation by the Board of Directors for an alleged $3 million hush pact with a former employee.

    The situation worsened when The Wall Street Journal revealed that he had a non-disclosure agreement with four other women to hide allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity.

    As the situation seems to be worsening and WWE is receiving negative press, it’s possible that The Rock could distance himself from the company until the investigation is complete.

    Although, we don’t know how long the investigation will take or if more information about McMahon will come out.

  • Logan Paul Reveals Why He Signed WWE Contract

    Logan Paul Reveals Why He Signed WWE Contract

    New WWE signee Logan Paul has revealed what made him sign with the company.

    It was a surprise to wrestling fans when Paul announced that he had signed a contract with WWE. He impressed fans with his performance in a tag match with The Miz against Rey and Dominik Mysterio at Wrestlemania 38 Night one on April 2.

    Despite having no prior experience, he showed great potential if he chose to continue professional wrestling. The Wrestlemania experience left an impression on Paul, and he shared on his Impaulsive podcast that it made him decide to sign a multi-year deal.

    Logan Paul WWE contract

    “…For me, there is a trifecta that I look for that decides what I do, and I say this with privilege because I can do this now because of the years, decades of hard work I’ve put in, but when I can mix passion, business and media all into one thing I’m like ultimate me, happy place,” said Paul.

    He continued, “…When I did Wrestlemania, I had so much fun. I just had fun. I came back all my friends had fun. We were all smiling. That was awesome. I’m looking at the clips, and I can’t believe that was me.”

    Paul also believes it will increase his brand by working with the WWE. “… It’s smart they pay well. WWE it’s a big organization, and media, it’s a show. It’s a great performance and entertainment, so I’m excited for this journey, and I’m well aware of how powerful of a launch pad it can be for whatever I want to do in life,” said Paul.

    The new signee explained that he’s not as visible in the media as he was in the past and that this is an opportunity to leverage WWE for his brand.

    The Miz and Logan Paul
    (WWE)

    Logan Paul vs. The Miz at Summerslam?

    While speaking about his deal with WWE, Paul also revealed that he would be challenging The Miz at Summerslam on July 30th. It’s unclear if WWE will have Paul face The Miz in a singles match, but Paul confirms that he will be coming for the former WWE Champion.

    After their tag team match at Wrestlemania 38 Night One, The Miz attacked Paul. After signing his contract, Paul warned his former tag team partner that he wanted revenge. On his podcast, Paul shared that he looks forward to slamming The Miz.

    “…I will be coming for The Miz at Summerslam. He wants to team up with me think he’s delusional. He thinks we are still partners, and we’re cool. We’re not. I take this very seriously, and I will slam him hard,” said Paul.

    The new WWE talent will be on Monday Night Raw on July 18th to confront The Miz. While Paul wants to face The Miz one-on-one, WWE could also look to do a tag team match instead.

  • The Great Khali Accused of Slapping Toll Worker

    The Great Khali Accused of Slapping Toll Worker

    Former WWE talent Dalip Singh Rana (The Great Khali) is accused of slapping a toll worker in India.

    Tribune India reports that the incident occurred on July 11 as Khali was traveling from Jalandhar in Punjab to Karnal, Haryana. The publication also has a video of the incident, but it doesn’t show that Khali attacked the toll worker.

    However, the video does show Khali confronting two toll workers as they try to put a barricade in front of his car. Khali takes it upon himself to stop them so that he can leave.

    Khali is accused of attacking the worker for asking him for his ID to pass the toll when asked by police. The former wrestler shared his side of the incident and accused the toll worker of blackmailing him for a selfie.

    great khali
    Photo Credit: WWE.com

    The report states that both Khali and the toll worker deny wrongdoing towards each other. Khali also shared his experience in an Instagram post and felt that people that mistreat celebrities should be punished.

    Tribune India translated Khali’s Instagram post.

    “…Yesterday, while going to Karnel, tax toll employee of Phillaur stopped my car and misbehaved for selfie. When I denied selfie, he ruthlessly passed racist comments and used bad words. That’s all I want to say,” said Khali.

    What’s Next for The Great Khali?

    It doesn’t seem like either side will move forward with the police about the incident.

    The reports shared, “Ladhowal police station on Tuesday said no complaint was lodged by either of the two sides.”

    The situation could change, and SEScoops will provide an update if it does. As of now, it doesn’t appear either Khali or the toll worker is interested in revisiting the situation.

    The former wrestler is also looking to put his focus on helping the Bharatiya Janata Political Party. He joined the party earlier this year and expressed how he is impressed with the work India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done.

    Despite the accusation and the video, Khali hasn’t admitted that he assaulted the worker.

  • Bianca Belair Shares Frustration with Opponent Changes During Title Reign

    Bianca Belair Shares Frustration with Opponent Changes During Title Reign

    WWE Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair has expressed frustration about having opponent changes during her title reigns.

    The champion is currently in a feud with Carmella, who stepped in as a replacement for Rhea Ripley. WWE wanted Ripley to challenge Belair at Money in the Bank on July 2.

    However, she suffered an injury, and the company gave Carmella the opportunity. A similar situation happened last year when Carmella had to step in to replace Bayley due to injury to face Belair for the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship.

    In an interview with The Corner Podcast’s Andreas Hale and Kel Dansby, Belair shared that dealing with opponent changes can be frustrating. She doesn’t blame anyone, but she expressed disappointment that feuds haven’t gone as planned.

    “…It’s difficult, and it gets frustrating with me sometimes. I felt like even with my Smackdown title reign, I wasn’t able to live up to the full potential of Smackdown Women’s Champion, just with how short the reign was and also with my title feuds,” said Belair. She mentioned how Carmella replaced Bayley last year and that she misses her.

    “…Bayley getting injured and then have Carmella having to step in at Summerslam and I feel like not being able to have these amazing matches with that I could have had in my title reign and being able to go up against other great competitors to prove that I’m a champion and then getting cut short and fast forward now it’s like deja vu. It’s happening all over again.”

    Although it can be difficult, Belair believes that it’s making her a better competitor and that she is dependable.

    Bianca Belair

    Will Bianca Belair Continue her Feud with Carmella for Summerslam?

    The feud between Belair and Carmella is still ongoing, but it’s unclear has changed their mind. Belair defeated Carmella at Money in the Bank, which could’ve ended the feud.

    However, Carmella defeated Belair at Monday Night Raw on July 11 in her rematch for the Raw Women’s Championship by count out due to interference by Becky Lynch.

    Carmella’s win should set up another match against Belair, but before the match, Lynch demanded that she gets to challenge the champion at Summerslam on July 30.

    Belair finds herself in the same situation she faced last year, with the same potential opponents going into Summerslam as champion.

    It’s unclear what plans the company has for Belair or who she will defend her title against. Hopefully, for Belair, she doesn’t lose her championship again at Summerslam.

  • WWE Board of Directors Member Resigns

    WWE Board of Directors Member Resigns

    WWE Board of Directors has lost a member as it continues its investigation of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.

    Last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Board of Directors was investigating WWE Chairman Vince McMahon for a secret 3 million dollar settlement with a former employee.

    McMahon temporarily stepped down from his position while the Board of Directors continued their probe. However, since he stepped down, wrestling fans have wondered what the ramifications of the alleged settlement and investigation would be.

    WWE shared today that Board of Directors member Connor Schell has resigned. While fans may speculate that this has to do with the company’s current issue with McMahon, WWE said it’s not the case.

    “On July 6, 2022, Connor Schell resigned from the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (the “Company”), effective immediately.

    “Mr. Schell resigned from the Board due to an increased slate of responsibilities resulting from his new, expanded role at the newly formed The North Road Company, a global, multi-genre content studio.

    “Mr. Schell’s decision to resign from the Board was not due to any dispute or disagreement with the Company, its management or the Board on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.”

    Vince McMahon
    (via WWE)

    What’s Next for Vince McMahon?

    WWE is remaining silent on the process of McMahon’s investigation. Although he stepped down as Chairman, he has appeared on Monday Night Raw and Smackdown and remains at the helm creatively.

    Wrestling fans attending the shows he showed up to have also cheered for him, so it doesn’t seem like he lost support.

    It’s unclear what the outcome of the Board of Directors’ investigation of McMahon will be. Schell’s resignation could have nothing to do with McMahon’s situation.

    However, with little information coming from the company, people quitting the company during these times are worth looking into.

  • GCW: Dead on Arrival Results(6/30)

    GCW: Dead on Arrival Results(6/30)

    Game Changer Wrestling held their event GCW: Dead on Arrival at the Knights of Columbus venue in Detroit, Michigan.

    The event is the first of GCW’s Summer Round Trip tour. The promotion will have four events in four states from Jun. 30 to Jul. 4. The main event saw Cole Radrick vs. Ciclope vs. Miedo Extremo in a Three-Way Deathmatch. The card also had Blake Christian facing Chase Burnett as he prepares to challenge Jon Moxley for the GCW World Championship next month.

    The event aired live on FITE and is available for $11.99 on Video on Demand. GCW fans can also watch the event as part of the Summer Round Trip Bundle for $29.99.

    https://twitter.com/Aregularindyfan/status/1542659284433092608

    GCW: Dead on Arrival Results

    1. Tony Deppen defeated Dark Sheik, Alec Price, Yuya, and Jimmy Llyod in a Scramble Match
    2. Blake Christian defeated Chase Burnett
    3. Ninja Mack defeated Calvin Tankman
    4. Jordan Oliver defeated Alex Shelley and Nick Wayne in a Three-Way Match
    5. Second Gear Crew defeated Team Horror Slam
    6. Slade defeated Hoodfoot in a Deathmatch
    7. Shane Mercer defeated Akira in a Deathmatch
    8. (C)Alex Colon defeated Dale Patricks in a Deathmatch to retain the Ultra Violent Championship
    9. Ciclope defeated Cole Radrick and Miedo Extremo in a Three-Way Deathmatch
    https://twitter.com/Aregularindyfan/status/1542664148500242435

    Overall Thoughts on GCW: Dead on Arrival

    This event had everything GCW fans would love with different types of wrestling matches, most notably the Deathmatch. It can be argued that the show may have overdone itself by having four Deathmatches straight till the end. One of the moments that stood out on the show was Slade vs. Hoodfoot.

    The match ended abruptly after Slade sliced Hoodfoot with a broken light tube on the arm, which caused a severe injury. Hoodfoot was rushed out of the ring to receive help. GCW’s Brett Lauderdale shared on Twitter that he went to the hospital to get stitches.

    Overall the event did have entertaining matches. Ninja Mack vs. Calvin Tankman and Jordan Oliver vs. Alex Shelley vs. Nick Wayne could be the matches that stand out to fans.

    The next event part of the Summer Road Trip tour will take place on Jul. 1.

  • Former ROH Star Pulled From Segment on AEW TV

    Former ROH Star Pulled From Segment on AEW TV

    The May 4 episode of AEW Dynamite almost had a former ROH star appear as a security guard.

    In an interview with Ringsiders Wrestling, Tony Deppen shared that he was supposed to be a member of the security team that Wardlow had attacked. The AEW star faced former Impact Wrestling talent W. Morrissey at the May 4 episode of AEW Dynamite in Baltimore, Maryland.

    After the match, Deppen was supposed to be one of the security guards that Wardlow beat down. He had already had a taped match with John Silver for AEW Dark that day.

    However, according to the former ROH star, AEW pulled him because they didn’t want to hurt his value as a wrestler.

    “…When I did AEW in Baltimore, I was supposed to do the run-in with Wardlow as well, and you know that Baltimore’s prime Ring of Honor territory. Everyone knows me there, and I did my match, got in the back, and the extra coordinator pulled me to the side.

    “He’s like, ‘You’re not going out there for that,’” said Deppen. He continued, “I was like, ‘oh, why?’ He just like, ‘we don’t want to hurt you like everyone knows who you are out there.’ They didn’t want me to get hurt as like my value, I guess, which I understand that but also in the same sense I’m like, ‘yo I would’ve got an extra payday.’”

    Tony deppen

    What is Former ROH Star Tony Deppen Doing Now?

    Since he departed from ROH, Deppen has competed for different independent wrestling promotions. He has also become one of the frequent talents competing in Game Changer Wrestling.

    He faced Jon Moxley for the GCW World Championship at GCW: You Wouldn’t Understand on June 18. While Deppen pushed the champion to his limit, Moxley defeated him to retain the title.

    Deppen also recently competed in a scramble match at GCW: Dead or Alive on June 30, which he won by pinning Dark Sheik.

    If AEW President Tony Khan wants to revive the ROH brand, he could consider signing Deppen. Although, it seems like Deppen is keeping himself active and having success.

  • Cesaro’s Whereabouts Ahead of Forbidden Door

    Cesaro’s Whereabouts Ahead of Forbidden Door

    Former WWE talent Claudio Castagnoli (FKA Cesaro) seems to be preparing for an in-ring return.

    As the All Elite Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling event Forbidden Door draws near, fans wonder who will make their debut. The speculation started when Bryan Danielson announced at AEW Dynamite on June 22 that he wouldn’t be able to wrestle Zack Sabre Jr. at the event due to injury.

    However, he shared that a debuting replacement, the newest member of the Blackpool Combat Club, will take his place.

    Some wrestling fans speculate that Castagnoli will be making his AEW debut to take on Sabre Jr.

    Fightful reports that he’s been training at Flatback Wrestling School in Orlando, Florida over the last several weeks. However, the report didn’t state that he has signed with AEW or will compete at Forbidden Door on June 26.

    Forbidden Door Logo

    Forbidden Door Injuries Taking A Toll

    It’s unclear if Castagnoli will debut at Forbidden Door, but the event could use an extra superstar. Both AEW and NJPW are dealing with talent unable to compete at Forbidden Door because of an injury or illness.

    AEW shared today that Hiromu Takahashi won’t compete on the card due to dealing with a fever. Takahashi was supposed to be in an eight-man tag team match with Sting, Darby Allin, and Shingo Takagi against The Bullet Club (El Phantasmo & Hikuleo) and The Young Bucks.

    The match will now be a six-man tag team match with Sting, Darby Allin, and Shingo Takagi against El Phantasmo and The Young Bucks.

    Danielson vs. Sabre Jr. is a match some fans have wanted to see happen. While it’s unfortunate that Danielson’s injury has prevented it from happening, a debuting Castagnoli against Sabre Jr. could make for a great match.

    However, we also don’t know if AEW has a different opponent in mind for Sabre Jr.

  • Alec Price Wants to Prove He’s The Best in the World Today (Exclusive)

    Alec Price Wants to Prove He’s The Best in the World Today (Exclusive)

    Independent Wrestling star Alec Price believes he is a strong candidate for best wrestler today.

    After five years of working on his craft, Price has risen in popularity and earned accomplishments. He is the current Limitless World Champion and Southern Underground Pro Bonestorm Champion.

    Price has also competed in well-received matches against wrestlers like Mike Bailey and Biff Busick this year. However, that isn’t enough for the double champion.

    The 23-year-old rising star wants to prove that he belongs to be mentioned among the best wrestlers today.

    While it may be debatable to some fans, he’s making a solid case to back up his claim and is unafraid to show his doubters why.

    I recently had the chance to speak one on one with Price. Here’s the video of our discussion, followed by written highlights.

    Getting into Professional Wrestling

    Growing up in a small apartment with seven family members, Price didn’t have an easy upbringing. His parents worked hard to give Price the best childhood they could. He shared that his mother would skip meals so Price and his other siblings could eat.

    While the living conditions weren’t ideal, he credits his parents’ work ethic for helping make the current double champion the person he is today.

    “…I didn’t grow up with much, so now I’m getting older; I want everything because I have the ability to go get it, and they taught me how to do that,” said Price. He continued, “…It was lit. I love growing up the way I grew up. I love my parents.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ4hlBoONpY/

    Price got into wrestling by watching WWE and IMPACT Wrestling with his grandmother. When he turned 18 years old, Price went into wrestling school with the help of his parents. They helped him pay for classes early on, and then he spent his way through his training.

    “…I started when I was 18, like a couple of months after that or February, because my parents got their tax money. They dished out the first $300 for me to start training, and then after that, I started having to pay myself, which is no big deal. I had a job,” said Price.

    He shared that he was helping pay rent when he was 15 and that having to mature early helped him be responsible.

    Price can follow his dreams thanks to his parents and inherited their work ethic that led to his success.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYFMKQjv3fF/

    Current Run of Success in Independent Wrestling

    Between 2021 and this year, Price has started to find his stride in professional wrestling. He became the Limitless World Champion by defeating former WWE talent Anthony Greene at Limitless Wrestling: Prize Possession on Nov. 13, 2021.

    Four months later, he followed up his success by defeating Jaden Newman for the SUP Bonestorm Championship at Beyond Wrestling Open on Mar. 17. Now with two titles on each of his shoulders, Price is ready to take on all oppositions.

    When asked where does he see himself among other wrestlers, he revealed that he’s number one in the world.

    “…I see myself as number one, and I’m not even being cocky. I’m just being humbly honest,” said Price. He also took a jab at IWTV Independent Wrestling World Champion AC Mack, whom he teased that a match could happen between the two soon.

    This year he’s currently won over 20 singles matches. He also made his GCW debut on Feb. 20 and has competed at an event every month since.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CaC0ywNsykd/

    What’s Next For Alec Price?

    While Price is thriving as an independent wrestler, he still has aspirations to sign with a major wrestling company like WWE or All Elite Wrestling. He wants longevity in professional wrestling and to ensure he and his family are financially secure for his career.

    Price understands that he will have to continue working hard and evolving as a wrestler. However, the challenges of reaching high goals are something that motivates him.

    “…I know that I’m not the biggest dude, so I’m going to have to work ten times harder than everybody else, but I’m going to work ten times harder and earn that. Regardless, if it’s not even the best fanciest contract, I can work my way up. I just want that recognition,” said Price.

    It’s unclear what the future holds for Price. However, it seems like he’s just getting started, and fans can expect to see him try to make his dreams a reality.

  • Get to Know: the Wrestling Winedown Podcast

    Get to Know: the Wrestling Winedown Podcast

    Our Get to Know Series is back to bring you a special conversation with the host of the Wrestling Winedown Podcast, Lo.

    It can be challenging for up-and-coming content creators to stand out from others to find success. In the wrestling podcasts community, people may share their opinions or review weekly what happened on shows from WWE or AEW. However, other podcasts like Wrestling Winedown try to give fans a different alternative.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CcS9zSVFTb_/

    Created and led by Lo, Wrestling Winedown has become a successful brand that likes to discuss deeper topics of professional wrestling relevant to current wrestling news. Lo also supports and collaborates with other talented creators to share their stories or experiences in wrestling. This has created unique content that wrestling fans may not get from other creators.

    I recently had the chance to speak with Lo about the success of her podcast. Here’s the video of our discussion, followed by written highlights.

    How did Wrestling Winedown Begin?

    It’s been three years since the start of the Wrestling Winedown podcast. The creation began while Lo was still attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for Journalism. Her friend Hayleigh liked wrestling and wanted to get into podcasting. Talking about wrestling intrigued Lo, especially when a female wrestling podcast was still uncommon.

    “…I started looking, doing some research, and I noticed that it was mostly men doing wrestling podcasts, so there weren’t a lot of female options out there, and that was one striving reason as to why we started it,” said Lo. She continued,”…We wanted to have that girl talk. Be in the week girl friend chat about professional wrestling. So we started thinking and I’m like we need to incorporate something else. My friend loves beer and I was like, I’m not really a beer drinker, I don’t know about that and I was like what about wine.

    Wrestling Winedown had its first podcast on Apr. 13, 2019. Hayleigh eventually stepped away from the podcast, and Lo changed the format to what it is today. The growth of the female-founded brand has led to great opportunities in wrestling and could possibly inspire other female wrestling fans to get into podcasting.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVmR_GolVwK/

    Discussing Serious Topics in Wrestling

    One thing that separates Wrestling Winedown from other podcasts is the approach to discussing serious topics in wrestling like diversity and representation. Lo organizes and moderates a panel of different content creators to have constructive and informative discussions. It’s also done in a way that looks at past issues in wrestling and how it relates today.

    “…There is a lot going on within professional wrestling and I think a lot of people they get scared to talk about certain stuff because they don’t want people to look negatively at it or they don’t want to start an argument on the timeline,” said Lo. She continued, “…We come fact base. We are not just saying stuff to say stuff, but we also encourage people to share their thoughts because it is important that even though you have knowledge whether it’s institutional knowledge or you gained it on your own.”

    Outside of the panel episodes, Lo also reviews wrestling events and does interviews with wrestling-related content creators that fans enjoy. She enjoys having conversations about wrestling but isn’t afraid to speak on topics that others may shy away from.

    Photo Credit: Fior Murua

    What’s Next for Wrestling Winedown?

    The podcast will be going through a rebrand in its third year of creation. Now that Lo is leading the brand, she hopes to shape Wrestling Winedown more into her vision. She also has added Wrestfriends Iridian Fierro to the team as an assistant on social media, and she will be more involved in future projects.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTUIkNLUZf/

    Lo has also started a new series for Wrestling Winedown called “The Life of a Wrestling Fan.” She will be interviewing successful people that are not involved in wrestling but that happen to be big wrestling fans. She recently interviewed a former MTV, VH1, and Nickelodeon executive Andria Parides in her first episode. Lo revealed that she already has several interviews planned and will be releasing them soon. When discussing the idea behind the new series, Lo expressed that she created the concept to bridge the gap between wrestling and people from other job fields.

    “…There are so many amazing wrestling fans who are doing stuff offline that is great for the community or their career, and we don’t know because we are not talking about online. We are focused on what’s going on RAW or AEW that we are not sharing Hey, I did this at work, or I made this impact in my community, or I’m working at the Met Gala. There are so many amazing things that wrestling fans are doing that needs to be brought to the forefront along with being a wrestling fan,” said Lo. She revealed that several interviews are already planned and will be released at a later date.

    The future of Wrestling Winedown looks promising as the brand continues to thrive. Possibly, a wine sponsorship is on the horizon as well.

  • Vince McMahon Under Investigation for Secret $3 Million Hush Pact

    Vince McMahon Under Investigation for Secret $3 Million Hush Pact

    The WWE Board of Directors probes Chairman Vince McMahon about an alleged secret 3 million dollar settlement with a former employee.

    The Wall Street Journal Joe Palazzolo and Ted Mann report that McMahon allegedly gave money to the former employee with whom he had an affair last year. However, the company has said that the relationship was consensual and will cooperate with the investigation. According to the report, the information was leaked to board members from someone close to the employee, who will look into the matter. The identity of the former employee was not revealed and it’s revealed that the she signed a non-disclosure agreement.

    “…The board of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. is investigating a secret $3 million settlement that longtime chief executive Vince McMahon agreed to pay to a departing employee with whom he allegedly had an affair, according to documents and people familiar with the board inquiry.

    The January 2022 separation agreement bars the now-former employee, who was hired as a paralegal in 2019, from discussing her relationship with Mr. McMahon or disparaging him,” said the report(h/t Joe Palazzolo and Ted Mann).

    Vince McMahon
    (via WWE)

    More on Vince’s Settlement with Former Employee

    According to the WSJ, the former employee was said to have “fallen on hard times” before coming into the company. She had a law degree but couldn’t take the bar exam because she focused on caring for a sick parent. Upon getting hired by WWE, her salary was $100,000. However, the report reveals that it increased to $200,000 after she began a sexual relationship with McMahon.

    The friend of the former employee also alleged that General Manager of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis also got involved with her and said McMahon “Gave her like a toy.” WSJ shared that the WWE Board of Directors received a copy of the 3 million dollar agreement from McMahon’s lawyers on Jun. 12. According to WSJ, the former employee had an “…Upfront payment of $1 million.” She would receive the other 2 million dollars over five years based on the deal.

    WWE has released a statement responding to the report. Wrestlenomics Brandon Thurston transcribed the statement.

    “The Wall Street Journal has published a report about WWE with allegations that we and our Board of Directors take seriously. We are cooperating fully with the independent investigation initiated by our Board of Directors(h/t Brandon Thurston).

    We will provide more updates on the story as more information is released.

  • Get To Know: The “Jobber Tears” Wrestling Podcast

    Get To Know: The “Jobber Tears” Wrestling Podcast

    The Get to Know Series looks at The Jobber Tears Podcast. The podcast is having great success, with all three hosts making strides in the professional wrestling business. The group will also hold its second live wrestling event called JobberSlam this Summer.

    A strong work ethic and consistency can be crucial to a successful content creator. The wrestling podcast business has grown in recent years, with independent content creators getting opportunities in the wrestling business. In the case of The Jobbers Tears Podcast, they’ve grown to be one of the most popular wrestling creators amongst wrestling fans and talent.

    Their success didn’t happen overnight, as they had to work hard to produce content consistently. However, it has earned them the ability to commentate on wrestling and helped them gain opportunities in the wrestling industry.

    I recently had the chance to speak with the group. Here’s the video of our discussion, followed by written highlights.

    How Did The Jobber Podcast Begin?

    The road to becoming a popular podcast didn’t start well for The Jobbers Tears Podcast. It began in 2017 with Wilkins “Sir Wilkins” Petit-Frere and Janelle “Janella From The HR” Garcia from HR as the wrestling debators, with another individual acting as a moderator. The original podcast called Yep, I Got a Podcast only lasted a few episodes before the moderator went on vacation, leaving Sir Wilkins and Janelle from HR to find another member. Sir Wilkins’s brother Yardley “Mr. Blacc” Petit-Frere replaced the moderator, and the group began to find their stride.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CO264AFrgAK/

    Unfortunately, the moderator returned and had creative differences, which resulted in the individual erasing the first six episodes from streaming platforms.

    “…In general, he deleted all the episodes, got rid of them, whatever. So I asked my brother, would you want to do a podcast with me. I still wanted to continue it because I knew it was something there, said Sir Wilkins. Along with their ex cameraman, the group got together at a bar to figure out the new name of the podcast. “…We literally sat there, and then we googled names. Ironically, all of them were taken. Anything that was like somewhat wrestling related it was taken,” said Sir Wikins. He continued, “So then we went with Jobber and then we have this friend named Larry, who we are cool with, who used to always troll on sports websites. I got a cup of tears of Giants fans or I got a cup of tears of like Knicks fans stuff like that. So then Janelle was maybe like tears and then we were like Jobber Tears!”

    The Jobbers Tears Podcast officially started on Jan. 11, 2018.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWlvq6APw1A/

    Spotlighting The Independent Wrestling Scene

    Once the podcast officially started, the group began to think of ways to differentiate themselves from most wrestling content creators. Instead of focusing on popular wrestling companies like WWE, they also spotlighted the indie wrestling community. They networked with talent by interviewing independent wrestlers and going to events and rose in popularity.

    “…We had these built with certain people because we met them through the independent scene or we spoke to them. One of my first interviews was Austin Theory,” said Sir Wilkins. He shared that signed talents like Theory and Carmelo Hayes know them because they networked with them before WWE. The podcasts have numerous high-profile interviews, including Shad Gaspard, Tasha Steelz, Nick Aldis, and Thunder Rosa.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CdD3uq4glyQ/

    The group also became more involved in the professional wrestling business by getting into independent wrestling. They better understand the decision-making behind wrestling, which Janelle from HR believes sets them apart from other podcasts.

    “…As we progressed with the podcast, we’ve also been understanding to the business side of wrestling, which I think a lot of podcasts and it’s not a shade or anything or a shot to anybody, but a lot of podcasts don’t do, because they are in that fan realm,” said Janelle from HR.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CcmBTtQOx52/

    What’s Next For The Jobber Tears Podcast?

    Although the podcast has reached success, the group is getting more involved in professional wrestling both together and individually. Mr. Blacc is training to become a referee and is working on a lifestyle project with The Dirty Heelz Podcast called The Sped Ed Kids Podcast. Sir Wilkins is preparing to have his first wrestling match and is working for Complex alongside Church of Joshi’s Alex Lajas for Complex Unsanctioned on Spotify. Janelle from HR has become part owner of Battle Club Pro Wrestling, which has an upcoming event Welcome 2 War on Jun. 19.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd4baPlukS0/

    The group is preparing their second live wrestling event under Battle Club Pro Wrestling called Jobberslam for Aug. 20. The event is still in development, and shared that more information will be released later. The Jobber Tears Podcast is also planning their AEW Double or Nothing watch party for fans at Legends Bar in New York, NY, on May. 29.

    The Jobber Tears Podcast hopes to have a legacy as great wrestling content creators who also have positively impacted the business. The achievements that they have earned are a reminder that a great work ethic, consistency, and ambition can lead to incredible opportunities.

  • Bryan Danielson Comments on Freak Accident During AEW Rampage Taping

    Bryan Danielson Comments on Freak Accident During AEW Rampage Taping

    All Elite Wrestling star Bryan Danielson jokes that old age caused him to fall between the ring and ramp.

    Danielson worried fans when he accidentally hurt himself during a post-match altercation at AEW Rampage on May 20 with the Jericho Appreciation Society. It took several minutes for AEW staff to help free his leg from between the ring and ramp.

    Thankfully, it doesn’t seem like he will be out of action.

    Wrestlerant’s Graham Matthews interviewed Danielson and asked for an update about his injury.

    The AEW star joked that he’s getting clumsy as he gets older.

    “…I laugh at myself because it was my birthday yesterday. I just turned 41, and I’m just like, I’m just this old man who falls into these cracks, and I can’t get out,” said Danielson.

    He joked that he felt like he was Steve Urkel in that moment.

    “My ankle and just below my knee are a little bit swollen. You know what I mean, but it’s interesting my life I like physical things.

    Bryan Danielson on freak accident

    “Right so even when I’m not wrestling, I like to do jiu-jitsu or kickboxing or hiking or whatever it is you know what I mean and so I’m kind of used to things being swollen.

    “I’ll be at Dynamite on Wednesday and I’ll have to get the trainer to check on it, just to make sure everything’s okay.”

    Bryan Danielson
    Bryan Danielson (Photo: AEW)

    Will Bryan Danielson Compete at Double or Nothing?

    Danielson hasn’t shared if trainers believe he should not compete at Double or Nothing on May. 29.

    That interview was done before he said he would get a check-up from trainers at AEW Dynamite on May. 25.

    AEW is still advertising that Danielson will team with his faction, the Blackpool Combat Club, alongside Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz to challenge The Jericho Appreciation Society this Sunday.

    The company also announced that he would face Matt Sydal on a live episode of AEW Rampage on May 27.

    The AEW star revealed that he laughed about it with Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley after the incident.

    “…I was laughing afterward with Eddie Kingston and Mox. This would have never happened to me at 28. I would have been very aware of my surroundings, but this old clumsy man who slips in things,” said Danielson.

    Danielson seems to be in good spirits and ready to compete. Hopefully, the swelling will subside before he clashes with the Jericho Appreciation Society at Double or Nothing.

  • Former WWE Stars & Controversial MMA Fighter Set For WES On June 4

    Former WWE Stars & Controversial MMA Fighter Set For WES On June 4

    Former WWE talent Adam Scherr (Braun Strowman) and former UFC fighter Alistair Overeem will collide at Wrestling Entertainment Series.

    On May. 13, former WWE tag team Legion of Pain (Authors of Pain) announced that their wrestling promotion WES would have an event on June 4 on FITE TV at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England.

    Legion of Pain shared that they would be making their in-ring return for their first event. However, they didn’t share who else would be on the card.

    The WES website has now revealed all of the matches that will take place on the card, including the main event between Scherr and Overeem for the World Championship.

    This marks the first wrestling match for Overeem, who has been open about not liking what he’s seen from professional wrestling like WWE.

    Another match on the card is former WWE talents Lina Fanene (Nia Jax) vs. CJ Perry (Lana) for the Women’s Championship.

    Image Credit: UFC.com

    Overeem on WWE and Professional Wrestling Today

    Overeem spoke publicly on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani about his thoughts on wrestling, mainly WWE, last year. He shared that he grew up watching WWE and liked Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior but stopped watching as he got older.

    “I watched it when I was 19 years old. Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, huge fans of those guys. Honky Tonk Man, great, funny,” said Overeem. He continued, “…I stopped watching after that, so I’m not watching since 92, 93, 94 and just recently I started looking again on Youtube, and oh my god this stuff is lame.

    “It’s just lame with all these guys are doing, it’s fake, it’s lame, it’s stupid.” Overeem said something after “it’s stupid,” but it was edited out.

    During the live interview, Overeem did indeed label pro wrestling as “gay.” Helwani told Overeem to not say that, which the former UFC fighter said why and continued to share that he thought what he has seen recently of wrestling from WWE content is lame.

    When asked by Helwani if he thinks professional wrestlers are athletes, he expressed again that it is lame. It’s unclear if Overeem has watched any wrestling outside of WWE or if he changed his stance on wrestling today.

    The Wrestling Entertainment Series Card (6/4)

    The first WES card will have eight matches. Two of the matches will be on the pre-show.

    • Adam Scherr vs. Alistair Overeem for the World Championship-Main Event
    • Lina Fanene vs. C.J Perry for the Women’s Championship-Co-Main Event
    • Legion of Pain vs. Wesley Blake and Steve Maclin for the World Tag Team Championship
    • Killer Kross vs. Samuray Del Sol vs. Jonah
    • Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood vs. Deonna Purrazzo and Chelsea Green for the World Women’s Tag Team Championship
    • Dean Muhtadi vs. Lince Dorado
    • Mike Bennett vs. Biff Busick-Pre-Show
    • Dirty Dango vs. Levis Valenzuela Jr.-Pre-Show

    The card isn’t available on FITE TV as of this writing for pre-order. We will update when it gets updated.

  • Rush Teases In-Ring Return, Wants to Wrestle AEW’s Top Stars

    Rush Teases In-Ring Return, Wants to Wrestle AEW’s Top Stars

    Former Ring of Honor World Champion Rush is ready to return to in-ring competition and is looking to compete in All Elite Wrestling.

    After suffering a knee injury at Glory By Honor on Aug. 21, 2021, Rush has shared that he recovered. However, Rush isn’t signed to ROH. Before the sale to AEW President Tony Khan, ROH had released all talent from their contracts.

    Now a free agent, Rush hopes to compete for AEW and wants to compete against the company’s biggest stars. In a tweet on May. 7, Rush expressed a desire to wrestle against Kenny Omega, Bryan Danielson, and CM Punk.

    “For all my fans in America, after 8 months out of the ring, I’m back and stronger than ever. I want Rush vs. Kenny Omega, Rush VS Daniel Bryan, and Rush VS CM Punk,” wrote Rush.

    What’s Next for the Ring of Honor Brand Under AEW

    Since the purchase of ROH, Khan has featured ROH title matches and had former talent in AEW. On the May. 4 episode of AEW Dynamite, the main event had Mercedes Martinez vs. Deonna Purrazzo for the Undisputed ROH Women’s World Championship. However, it doesn’t seem like a weekly ROH show isn’t happening soon.

    Free agents like Rush want to return to ROH or sign with AEW, but it’s unclear if Khan will sign former ROH talent. Wrestling fans are also speculating if ROH will turn into a developmental system like NXT is to WWE. The AEW President shared after the purchase that he’s still unsure about the immediate future of ROH.

    Rush
    (via ROH)

    Could Another Wrestling Company Sign Rush?

    While Rush is interested in AEW, it’s possible that another wrestling company could sign him. A wrestling fan expressed interest in other companies like Impact Wrestling or New Japan Pro Wrestling hiring Rush, which the former ROH champion retweeted. Impact Wrestling has also had former ROH talents wrestling competing for them.

    MLW CEO Court Bauer has also expressed interest in Rush. In an interview with Busted Open last year, he shared that he tried to sign Rush before ROH did.

    “Rush because I had him before and with my fans, I mean, I have a Spanish language show on beIN Espanol, we always go down to Mexico. We offered him a deal, Ring of Honor countered, and he went with Ring of Honor. I sold out Cicero Stadium with RUSH. I know his [drawing] power. I know the guy’s injured, but I think he’s gonna come back strong”(h/t Fernando Quiles Jr).

    The free agent could have plenty of options on who he will sign with next.

  • Dante Martin vs. Rey Fenix Owen Hart Qualifier Set for Dynamite

    Dante Martin vs. Rey Fenix Owen Hart Qualifier Set for Dynamite

    Rey Fenix will make his in-ring return to challenge Dante Martin for the first time ever on May. 5.

    Since the Mar. 30 episode of AEW Dynamite, All Elite Wrestling has featured matches for men and women to qualify for The Owen Hart Foundation Cup Tournament. The inaugural tournament will begin its first round on May. 11.

    AEW already shared last week that Jeff Hardy would compete against Bobby Fish in a Men’s qualifier match. Now AEW President Tony Khan has announced that Rey Fenix will take on Dante Martin in another The Owen Hart Foundation Cup Qualifier match.

    Rey Fenix vs. Dante Martin Preview

    Fenix will have his first match in AEW since he suffered an arm injury in the Jan. 5 episode of AEW Dynamite episode. His gruesome-looking injury occurred when he took a chokeslam from Luchasaurus through a table. Although it looked brutal on TV, Fenix wasn’t expected to be sidelined for too long. He returned on the Apr. 27 episode of AEW Dynamite to help Penta El Zero Miedo and PAC attack the House of Black. A win for Fenix gets him back in the win column and reminds fans just how good he can be healthy.

    Martin will try to get his first win on AEW Dynamite since Jan. 12. His last win on the show happened against Powerhouse Hobbs, but since he has only won matches on AEW Dark. He also began teaming with his brother Darius Martin, which halted his singles run. However, Martin has an opportunity to defeat Fenix in their first-ever match and get a win on AEW’s premier weekly TV show.

    Full Card for the 5/4 Episode of AEW Dynamite

    The May. 4 episode of AEW Dynamite takes place at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. The card is expected to have six matches.

    • Rey Fenix vs. Dante Martin
    • Jeff Hardy vs. Bobby Fish
    • Wardlow vs. MJF’s Mystery Opponent
    • Chris Jericho vs. Santana in a Grudge Match
    • The Butcher, Blade and Angelico vs. Blackpool Combat Club
    • (C) Deonna Purrazzo vs. (IC)Mercedes Martinez for the Undisputed Ring of Honor Women’s Championship
  • Nyla Rose Says Forbidden Door is “Wide Open” for Stardom Talent

    Nyla Rose Says Forbidden Door is “Wide Open” for Stardom Talent

    All Elite Wrestling talent Nyla Rose hopes to see wrestlers from Stardom walk through the “Forbidden Door.”

    Since introducing the “Forbidden Door,” AEW has worked with other wrestling organizations like Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. However, most of the cross-over interactions have been with men, leaving the AEW women’s division out of the picture.

    On the Apr. 20 episode of AEW Dynamite, AEW and NJPW announced they would partner for a Pay-Per-View event called Forbidden Door on Jun. 26. As of now, NJPW’s affiliate, the all-women wrestling promotion Stardom, isn’t involved. Solitaire Rose Radio’s Cory interviewed Rose and asked who she’d like to face from NJPW. Rose responded that NJPW doesn’t have a women’s division but shared that she hopes to wrestle someone from Stardom and see them walk through the “Forbidden Door.”

    “…Unfortunately, New Japan themselves do not have a women’s division. However, they do work very closely with Stardom, said Rose. She continued, “…I have not really had the experience, the pleasure to work with anyone in Stardom. So for me, that Forbidden Door is wide open. I would call it a Forbidden Archway. I would welcome anyone to walk through that, just to say that I’ve done that. Check that box off.”

    AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door

    Will The AEW Women’s Division be Involved at Forbidden Door

    While wrestling fans are excited about the announcement, the news may exclude talent from the AEW Women’s division from taking part. The Forbidden Door event may have talent from AEW and NJPW compete against each other. Although it’s unclear what the format of the show will be yet. Stardom also has an event planned for Jun. 26, which puts any involvement in doubt.

    AEW may somehow feature the women’s division in the show, but not against wrestlers from a different promotion. While it may be disappointing to fans, Wrestling Observers Dave Meltzer shared on Saturday Night Main Event Podcast that Stardom is interested in working with AEW. It may not happen at Forbidden Door, but Rose may get the opportunity to challenge a Stardom opponent in the future.